Kenya made history by hosting the sixth edition of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup for the very first time, with the continent’s premier women’s rugby competition taking place at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi from 21st to 31st May 2026.
The tournament brought together four of Africa’s top women’s rugby nations: defending champions South Africa, hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Madagascar. Over three match days, fans were treated to high-quality rugby as teams battled for continental supremacy and qualification opportunities on the African stage.
The opening match day on 23rd May saw South Africa begin their title defence in dominant fashion with a convincing 64-5 victory over Madagascar. Hosts Kenya also made a strong statement in front of their home supporters, defeating regional rivals Uganda 43-10 to kick off their campaign on a winning note.
Four days later, on 27th May, the competition resumed with another set of entertaining encounters. South Africa maintained their unbeaten run with a 47-20 win over Uganda, while Kenya produced an impressive display to shut out Madagascar 57-0. The victory set up a winner-takes-all clash between Kenya and South Africa on the final day of the tournament.
The tournament reached its climax on 31st May with two decisive fixtures. Uganda secured their place in the competition with a commanding 46-12 victory over Madagascar, a result that condemned the Lady Makis to relegation. The final match of the tournament then saw South Africa and Kenya face off for the title in front of an enthusiastic Nairobi crowd.
Despite a spirited performance from the Kenya Lionesses, South Africa proved too strong, claiming a 35-20 victory to successfully defend their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup crown. The win secured South Africa’s status as the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup champions, while Kenya finished as runners-up after an impressive campaign that included victories over Uganda and Madagascar.
Beyond the results, the tournament marked a significant milestone for Kenyan rugby. Hosting the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup for the first time demonstrated Kenya’s growing capability to stage major international rugby events and highlighted the continued development of women’s rugby across the continent. The event attracted strong support from fans and stakeholders, further showcasing Nairobi as a leading destination for African rugby.
As the curtains closed on a memorable ten days of competition at the RFUEA Grounds, South Africa left Nairobi with the title, Kenya with valuable experience and pride as hosts, Uganda with survival secured, and Madagascar facing the challenge of rebuilding following relegation.
